Water level control for boilers



V. O. BEAM WATER LEVEL CONTROL FOR BOILERS March z5, 1941,

Filed April l0, 1957 2 Slzeelzs-Shee?l 1 INVENTOR. V/L rfv/v 0 55AM ATTORNEY 5 March 25, 1941-.A v. o. BEAM 2,236,360

WATER LEVEL CONTROL FOR BOILERS Filed April l0, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wam umi Y INVENTOR. 5f BY V/L yN/v O BfA/w ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 25, 1941 WATER LEVEL CONTROL FOR BOILERS Vilynn O. Beam, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Bryant Heater Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a. corporation oi' Ohio Application April 10, 1937, Serial No. 136,120

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in water level controls for boilers, and has reference particularly to apparatus in which the float chamber is sealed and an electrical control mechanism is actuated magnetically through a diagrammatic portion of the oat chamber casing.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein there are no moving parts extending through the casing, thereby doing away with packings for such parts.

Another object is the provision of a device for the purpose stated which shall be capable of being substituted for the conventional gauge glass of a domestic heating boiler.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for trapping air in a small compartment at the top oi the float chamber and locating in that compartment one of the magnetic elements which constitute a part oi the operating means, whereby that element will be protected against contact with the water in the iioat chamber.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a iront elevational view of a iioat operated control appara-tus built in acordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view principally in vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

and showing the parts on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of rthe same with the switch box cover removed and certain parts broken away, and

Fig. 5 is a diagram of electric circuits which may be employed in connection with the invention.

Similar reference characters apply to like parts throughout the views.

In the drawings I have illustrated at IU and l I conventional upper and lower gauge glass fittings such as are commonly used upon domestic heating boilers, these fittings being threaded upon pipes I2 and i3 respectively projecting outwardly from a heating boiler in vertical alignment. These ttngs further comprise nuts lli and l5 by means of which the ends of a conventional gauge glass of tubular form may be moun-ted.

My apparatus is adapted to be installed in the Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional view,

(Cl. 20D-84) place of such a conventional gauge glass, and for this purpose it comprises two metallic pipe sections I6 and il of the same external diameter as the conventional gauge glass, which are threaded into aligned holes in the upper walls, respectively, of the main casing and lower i8 ci the apparatus. The combined length oi the casing and the two pipe sections i5 and Il is the same as the length of the conventional gauge glass. Hence the gauge glass of a boiler may be removed and the present apparatus 'inserted in its place readily and quickly.

The front wall iii of the casing i8 is a separate member secured to the body of the casing by screws 2D. It is provided with a bezel 2| surrounding a vertically elongated opening behind which is mounted a nat gauge glass 22. Suitable means for sealing the joints around the glass 22 are provided, consisting4 preferably oi gaskets 23 and 24.

In the top wall of the casing there is a circular opening into which is fitted a sleeve 25 with an outwardly extending flange at its upper end. Between this flange and the casing there is an annular gasket 25.

similar gasket 2l',

Above the flange there is a over which is placed a thin brous material.

On top of this diaphragm I mount the base 3B of a switch box, this base having a central opening 3i aligned with the opening in the casing, and small openings 32 and 33 through which electrical conductors may be caused to enter the box.

Screws 34 extend through openings in base 3U, diaphragm 29, 28, gasket 2l, the iiange4 of sleeve 25 and gasket 26 into threaded openings in the casing, thereby compressing the gaskets and sealing the joints between the casing and the sleeve as well as between the sleeve and the diaphragm.

A ball oat 35 within the casing is threadably attached to the lower end of a stem 36 which projects through guiding holes in two circular discs 31 and 38 spaced by an integrally formed connecting member 39. This guide assembly is merely inserted upwardly into the sleeve 25, and thereafter a screw l0 is threaded into a hole in the sleeve beneath disc 38 for supporting the assembly. On the upper end of stem 35 there is mounted, preferably by a threaded connection,

an iron armature within the sleeve.

4l of a size to move freely Its movement is of course limited by the diaphragm 28, 29 and the disc 37.

A slab of insulation d2 with a large rectangular opening d2' in the middle thereof, is mounted in the switch box above the base Sil. In the mounting of this slab I may utilize screws d3 which project through holes in the slab, through spaced blocks ddl and through holes in the base 3l) into threaded openings in the casing i8. A at spring ringer l5 of electrical conducting material is firmly anchored to the slab 62 at one end thereof, as by means of a bolt d6, the upper end of which serves as a connecting post. This finger projects into the opening d2 of the slab.

' At its opposite end finger 45 carries an extension lil and bracket d8, all held together by a pair of screws t9. The bracket et, besides the hori- `zontal arm by which it is attached to finger G5, comprises a vertically arranged channel portion, as will be apparent from Fig. 4. 'I'his channel portion receives a permanent magnet 5@ o' inverted U-shape. The magnet is held in the bracket, by means of a clamping plate 5i through which extends a screw 52 that is threaded into the bracket 39, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The magnet is |thus carried by the spring finger QS, and it is so adjusted vertically as to stand a little above the diaphragm 28, 29 when not affected by armature di.

The nger d5 and its extension lll together constitute the movable blade of a switch. Two xed blades cooperate with the movable blade, one such fixed blade 53 being mounted at one side of slab d2 by means of a screw 513 and extending inwardly to a point above the end of extension dl. The other fixed blade 55 is attached to the lower surface of slab 62 on the opposite side thereof by vmeans of a bolt 56, and extends inwardly to a point beneath extension lll. When magnetic attraction between magnet d@ and amature dl causes these parts to come together, that is except for the diaphragm between them, the movfable extension blade is pulled down so as to make contact with blade 55. When however this attraction is broken by the descent of armature di the spring nger d5 rises, due to its resiliency, and the movable switch blade makes contact with the upper blade 53.

When vthe parts are all assembled and the electrical connections made a cover 51 is placed over the slab d2' and the base 3B and removably secured thereto by suitable means so as to completely enclose and protect the switch and associated parts.

The proper high level of water is indicated by the ribs 58 on bezel 2i. Whenever the level 1s at this point or somewhat lower the float holds armature dl up against the lower surface of diaphragm 2B, 29. There is then a mutual attraction between magnet 5b and armature 4l and the movable switch blade is drawn down into contact with fixed blade 55. Assuming that the proper electrical connections are made to binding posts t6 and 55, and that any other controls in the line are in operative position, a circuit is lthereby set up through the control for the fuel supply to the boiler. 'Ihis control may be an electric motor operated pump, or it may be a valve in a gas supply line moved to open position by a solenoid or a motor. In Fig. 5 I have indicated at 59 any suitable fuel supply control, a conductor 60 connectng this control witha source Aof electricity 5l, and a switch 62 which represents any manual switch blade el is held down against blade 55 a or automatic control of the feed line, as for instance a switch operated by a room thermostat.

circuit will be set up through the fuel feed apparatus or control 59, and fuel will be fed to the burner.

It is contemplated of course that switch blades @l and 55 will remain in contact almost continuously. However, if and when the level of water in the boiler falls sufciently to lower the oat 35 to a predetermined low point, the attraction between armature el and magnet 50 will be so weakened that the resilience of spring iinger 45 will overcome it and the magnet 50 will spring up, separating switch blades il and 55. The supply of fuel will then be interrupted and will continue interrupted until the water level is again raised. Replenishment of the water may be accomplished by the manual operation of a valve in a water feed line, or it may be accomplished, as indicated in Fig. 5, automatically. In that gure I have shown a conductor t3 between source of electricity Si and a water feed control tLand a conductor 65 extending from the latter control to the binding post 553. The control @d may be an electrically operated valve for opening a service water line, or it may be an electrically operated pump by means of which water is supplied to the boiler.V

As soon as contact is made between switch blades dl and 53 this water control functions and water begins to ilow into the boiler. It continues to do so until the water level rises sumciently to bring armature di up against the diaphragm, when the magnetic attraction of the magnet for the armature overcomes the resiliency of spring nger d5, and the magnet again takes its lower position, the water supply control circuit is broken and the circuit through the fuel control is again completed.

It will be observed therefore that it is impossible for the burner to continue to operate if for any reason whatever the supply o water in the boiler is diminished to an etent such that the level is below a predetermined safe point, thereby avoiding the damage and interruptionto service which would occur if the boiler ran dry. It will also be observed that the glass 22 in the front wall of the casing makes the water level visible to the operator in the same way as the conventional gauge glass which is displaced by the present apparatus.

While the location'of the magnet above the diaphragm 28, 29, and the armature below the diaphragm is the preferred arrangement, it will.

be appreciated that in accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, these two parts may be interchanged.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a device of the character described, a casing, means for connecting said casing to a boiler above and below the water level thereof, said casing having an opening in the top thereof, a thin non-magnetic closure for said opening, a sleeve extending downwardly from the top of the casing axially with said opening and terminating below the water level, a switch above the closure, a neat in the casing, upper and lower magnetic elements comprising a permanent magnet and an armature, the upper magnetic element being operative-4 ly connected with said switch and the lower magnetic element being operatively connected with the float and arranged within said sleeve, and guiding means for the lower magnetic element in Said sleeve comprising a pair of vertically spaced guide members arranged above the lower end of the sleeve, said sleeve serving also to provide an air pocket for the protection of the lower magnetic element and the guide means.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, means for connecting said casing to a boiler above and below the water level thereof, a sleeve secured to the top of the casing and extending downward therefrom, a iioat in the casing, a stem attached to said float and extending upwardly into said sleeve, guiding means for said stem comprising two spaced disks perforated to receive the stem and loosely engaging the walls of the sleeve.

said disks being connected together by an upright member, a removable stop mounted in the wall of the sleeve beneath one of said disks for removably supporting said guiding means, and control means above the casing adapted to be set in operation by the Vertical movements of said oat and stem.

VILYNN O. BEAM. 

